Luxembourg's premier plans to discuss sanctions, Ukraine and Syria with Russian president
SOCHI. Oct 6 (Interfax) - Xavier Bettel, the prime minister of Luxembourg, which currently holds the European Union presidency, plans to discuss European sanctions, the situation in Ukraine and the fight against terrorism in Syria at a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
"I intend to discuss topics on the international, European and bilateral agenda with the president of Russia. As far as the European agenda is concerned, the talks with the president will center on relations between the EU and Russia, the situation surrounding the sanctions imposed on the Russian Federation, as well as the situation in Ukraine," Bettel said in an interview with Interfax.
"As for the international agenda, we will speak about the fight against terrorism in Syria, which is a common goal for the two countries, and will discuss ways to move forward towards this goal and overcome the existing disagreements," he said.
The Kremlin press service reported earlier that the Russian president would meet with Luxembourg's prime minister in Sochi on Tuesday.
"During the negotiations, [Putin and Bettel] plan to consider relevant aspects of the bilateral and international agenda, and prospects of relations between Russia and the EU in light of Luxembourg's presidency of the Council of the European Union," the press service told Interfax.
On Monday, Sochi hosted negotiations between Bettel and Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev.
